IDOT: No Quick Fix for Intersection at Randall, Rt. 72
By Amy Mack
Fellow motorists, we are definitely in a jam at Randall Road and Route 72, but I hear there is a flicker of hope.
State transportation officials tell me they will meet this week to talk about how best to fix the troubled intersection.
Judging from the outpouring of comments in recent days from those who share my concern about this dangerous intersection, I’m guessing that will make many of you very happy. It certainly will make me happy if this meeting -which is far from the first about this intersection – actually yields action. There has been plenty of talk since several serious crashes more than a year ago.
I recognize it’s a complicated crossroads with the Illinois Department of Transportation controlling Route 72 and the actual intersection, the Kane County Department of Transportation controlling Randall Road, the city of Elgin policing the intersection and emergency personnel responding to any substantial crash there coming from Elgin, Gilberts, West Dundee, Rutland Township and Carpentersville.
Kane County already has forwarded its suggestions to fix the intersection to IDOT, which is the lead agency on this one. And IDOT, apparently, doesn’t have a quick fix, spokesman Mike Claffey tells me.
It sounds like you need to keep those calls and letters coming to me so the state recognizes how serious the need is.
Too many crashes
Kane County Board member John Fahy called to say he has visited the intersection too many times on calls as an Elgin firefighter – 106 accidents at the site since 2002.
Although the intersection is not in his county board district, he read many of your concerns in this column and approached Kane County transportation officials and state Rep. Tim Schmitz to share his own.
“My kids go through there all the time. I’ve responded multiple times as a fireman … what’s it going to take?” John said.
He said they told him it should be relatively simple to allow left turns on arrows only, something many of you feel should already have been done.
It seems most of you also agree a longer yellow and the suggested delay between the red light and turn arrow could help safely clear the intersection. Nanette Kastner of Gilberts also would like to see no turns on red.
Let’s hope Kane can persuade IDOT to make the signal adjustments soon rather than wait for the not-so-quick fix.
Meanwhile, there is something we can all do while we wait for help: Slow down!
As Sandy Bloom of Algonquin notes, Randall Road is not the interstate.
What’s up with that?
Like a scene out of a movie, a Claude Monet painting or a flashback to Flanders Fields, Cary has its own poppy field heaven. Acres of Hawaiian Punch-colored flowers dot the fields beneath the ComEd transmission lines just east of the library and west of Foxford Drive on Three Oaks Road. It’s gorgeous.
Cary resident Ron Danikowski wrote wondering what the story was. Turns out, Ron, that field of color is thanks to ComEd’s effort to do more native plantings where possible. Not only is it prettier, but it saves costs in the long run since native plants are less costly to maintain than the sometimes invasive species that often grow in those areas.
The utility often works with Pheasants Forever to convert its rights-of-way to native grasses and prairies. But on this one, it was strictly a ComEd venture, spokesman Jeff Burdick tells me.
Nicely done!
Whatever happened?
An east-side Algonquin resident wonders whatever happened to that promised Arby’s near the Butera on Route 62. It’s still a go, said Assistant Village Manager Jeff Mihelich, who heads community development efforts there. Apparently just a slow go. Kind of like almost any area road, eh?
Meanwhile …
It’s not fast food in the traditional sense, but if you haven’t checked out the Gourmet House that set up shop in the vacated Julie Ann’s Custard building just down the street from that Arby’s-to-be on Route 62, give it a try. They have a great bargain lunch – entree, rice, egg roll and soup – and always wonderful fresh and tasty Chinese food. Stop by.
Pump it up
Looks like a good time to fill the tank. A Gilberts man says he got gas for $3 a gallon at Dominick’s on Randall and Huntley with his Fresh Values card. Better still, my boss’ wife got a coupon on the back of her receipt for $1 off per gallon with a fill-up at the Meijer pumps on Randall Road in Algonquin. She filled up for $2.25 a gallon – for premium! Bet you can’t beat that!
– Amy Mack’s column appears Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. She can be reached at (847) 931-5725; by fax (847) 608-0849; via mail at 385 Airport Road, Suite A, Elgin, IL 60123-9341; or by e-mail: amack@@dailyherald.com.
(c) 2007 Daily Herald; Arlington Heights, Ill.. Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning. All rights Reserved.